A Merck ( MRK )-licensed experimental drug to fight a bacteria blamed for increasing rates of deadly diarrhea in hospitals and nursing homes was found highly effective in a mid-stage study. The study , published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows the drug cut repeat infections by 72% in a trial of 200 patients infected by the diarrhea-causing germ in the U.S. and Canada. The drug reduces the risk of re-infection by the bug and its more virulent new strain more than in patients taking only antibiotics and the side effects were similar. Continue reading Merck's Diarrhea Drug Could be First in 30 Years Merck's Diarrhea Drug Could be First in 30 Years originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:15:00. Filed Under: Company News , Merck Permalink | Tweet this! | Comments